Joey Chestnut to defend hot dog eating title while on probation after pleading guilty to battery
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Competitive eater Joey Chestnut is on probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge. The reigning champion and 17-time winner of Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest will still compete in the July 4 spectacle. The competitive eating sensation was accused of slapping a man during a night out at an Indiana bar, his attorney said. Chestnut entered a guilty plea April 20 and was sentenced to 180 days of probation in Hamilton County, Indiana. A judge has granted him permission to travel outside the state, allowing him to continue competing.
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